Chapter 24: A place to drown

Clover smiled but the look in their eyes didn't reveal anything of their thoughts. Ace wondered how someone could hide their emotions so succinctly. Demons weren't known for their self-control. Yet with Clover, sometimes it was like they had a way of shutting the outside world out with just a smile.

"What I mean is," they added, "We're both here like you said so why does it have to be harder than it needs to be? We have a connection, right?"

"Right,"

"I don't know how else to describe it but I feel like I can tell you things that I can't tell other people. I care about you and I don't want anything bad to happen to you. You feel the same about me right?"

Ace nodded slowly. He wasn't sure where this was going but his heart was pounding uncontrollably.

"So then, rather than working against each other. Let's be on the same page. Let's talk and just be honest. No more secrets. No more lies. What do you think, Ace? You don't have anything you want to tell me do you?"

"I...No, no I don't," Ace averted his eyes.

"Good. Then let's just spend the remaining time being friends. We can make memories if you want and we can have fun,"

"Friends?" Ace repeated.

"Look I know you want more than that but this is all I can give you right now," Clover returned, "I don't know what's going to happen in future,"

"Do you still want to destroy the demon world?"

Clover smiled, "How can I? It's not up to me anymore. But either way, I don't want to spend the rest of the time arguing with you. I think this is the best answer. I mean for us to be real friends this time. Not like last time... I'm serious this time...oh I can't believe I'm saying this,"

"You weren't serious last time?" Ace frowned.

"Oh! don't look at me like that," Clover lamented, "I mean I did like you but I was also bored and annoyed. I was trying to make the best of a bad situation. I never thought anything would actually happen between us.

But it has and maybe that's not a bad thing. I feel like...I feel like I can trust you Ace and that's something that rarely happens to me. So what I'm saying is I want you in my life right now...but this time, I'm giving you a choice - not that I didn't before - but I want you to understand that even if you say 'no', things aren't going to change. You can still stay here and you can do what you want,"

"You know you don't have to do that Clover," Ace paused, "If you don't want us here..."

"When you were going to say 'it doesn't have to be real',"Clover interrupted, " that really hurt me because this...this is real for me,"

"This is real for me too," Ace murmured. He wasn't sure how he felt about it all.

"I know it is," Clover said softly, "So just take some time and think about it,"

"It's okay," Ace breathed uneasily. "I don't need time to think about it. I want to be your friend,"

He still felt apprehensive, but he could forget about it if he just stared into Clover's eyes.

"Good," Clover leaned in taking Ace in their arms, "because I missed you,"

"I've missed you too," Ace clung on to Clover tightly.

Even though they had been together the past few days, things hadn't been the same since Clover had left. If that feeling could return then Ace welcomed it. At least, he knew he ought to welcome it. Yet there was a sinking feeling as he pulled away.

Was it real this time? That gnawing doubt still cast a shadow over his heart, but this time it felt even more intense. What if he was wrong again? What if all of this was wrong? Deep down Ace knew that even if was, he would have still taken Clover's hand and that meant that he hadn't changed.

Wasn't he in the exact same position as before? Only now, he had lost Albaric, his place in the human world and all those colourful dreams were disappearing one by one.

He could still be hopeful about the future but he felt old feelings surfacing. It was as if the tighter he tried to hold on to Clover, the further he got. It still felt like the reason was that he wasn't good enough.

The moment Ace stepped out of Clover's room, Michael was waiting. He pulled Ace to one side hastily.

"What do you think you're doing?" he said through gritted teeth.

"I thought I was walking. Is that a crime in the Empire? because it's not here - just so you know," Ace sighed.

Why did Michael have to always catch him at his weakest? He felt even less certain about their plan than ever. He had just promised Clover honesty and friendship, now he was about to risk all that.

"If you've got time to be playing around, go and get that necklace before your magic runs out! "

"Has anyone ever told you that you have a slight anger problem?" Ace smirked.

He started walking down the stairs but Michael followed.

"You've probably only got a few hours before the demon world sucks out all your magic and you become completely useless again, but please keep making jokes. I'm sure Clover thinks it's really cute. Well, cute enough to be your 'friend',"

"You don't have anything better to do than eavesdrop?" Ace turned back sharply.

"As it happens, no, I don't. I mean why sit around thinking about my imminent death if we can't get that necklace when I can listen to you make a fool of yourself. Oh, but far be it from me to state the obvious," Michael smiled provokingly.

Ace regarded him sharply, "You seem to be under the impression that we have the type of relationship where I listen to your advice. Just in case you've forgotten, I don't like you and pissing me off now isn't the best idea,"

"Aww," Michael cooned mockingly, "Was there meant to be a threat in there? You need a bit more practice. Here let me demonstrate. Get your ass to the other side of the tower and get that necklace OR I'm going to explain to Clover why you are not as cute as they think!"

"You do that and you're screwed as well," Ace hesitated.

"Well, you don't get that necklace and we're screwed anyway. At least this way I get to see go down with me because 'just in case you've forgotten', I don't like you either. So get moving," Michael pushed past nudging Ace roughly.

"If we bring it, Clover might realise ..." Ace began.

"Then just have Clover send us back with it," Michael interrupted, "You can stay and play here if you want. Just get me the necklace and I'll take care of the rest,"

Ace clenched his fists. Once more he was forced to do whatever Michael wanted... Ace set off to his room and slammed the door behind angrily. By the time the door closed behind him, he felt the rush of anger boiling over. It was as though a weight had descended. All his ideas of freedom and happiness were sinking him. That's what the demon world was: a place to drown.

Ace opened the windows and looked down. The courtyard below looked cold and dry as always. However, loitering by the gates, he could see the familiar crowd of demons who they had seen earlier. They were persistent, Ace would give them that.

He took a breath in and turned to the room. It was his room. That's what it felt like and soon it would just be him and Clover. It didn't matter if they were just friends, it was still a fresh start. Maybe things weren't perfect but once Michael had the necklace this would all be over.

Though It felt strange that he wouldn't be going back to the human world, at least this way they could be together. And maybe in the future...

Ace decided not to think about it anymore. He had to concentrate on the present. Right now, he was about to break Clover's trust again, but it had to be done. Ace closed his eyes and began to focus his magic.

There was a lot more resistance than usual. It felt as though every time he gathered the energy it would just dissipate again. He needed an even greater charge of mana to cast the magic. He pushed past the opposing grip of the energy vacuum.

However, in doing so, he felt that he was drawing from something beyond his reserve of magic. He felt a sharp pain. Ace opened his eyes abruptly. The necklace was coiled around his fingertips.

He started to smile but the pain returned. Ace let out a cough. Bloodstained his trembling hand. He felt nauseous but came to grabbed the window sill to steady himself. He shoved the necklace in his pocket just as the room started to swirl. He staggered forward and hit the floor. Everything went black.